Health and aging characteristics of highly physically active 65-year-old men

Eighteen highly physically active men aged 65 years, training since youth, were compared to 67-year-old men from the general population. Body fat was low in the well-trained men, particularly in the central regions of the body. They smoked less. They characterized themselves as being in a general state of good health and well-being. Plasma insulin values were remarkably low. Blood pressure and resting heart rate were lower and ventilatory capacity better than in controls, and they had less heart diseases. The "juvenile" traits in their energy metabolism as well as in blood pressure and in their own perception of being highly energetic were not associated with less aging characteristics of hair, skin, or function of senses. The results obtained in this selected group suggest that physical activity protects against several age-dependent conditions as well as obesity, also at a fairly advanced age. These findings as well as the observations of differences in ventilatory function, smoking habits, and well-being between the group of highly physically active men and the control group deserve further studies.